The application of modern PDA technology for effective handheld solutions in the retail industry

A modern handheld solution for the retail industry has been designed to replace older proprietary hardware with a PDA-based (personal digital assistant) system. As part of the design, alternative handheld hardware was identified; retail handheld software was written; wireless communication protocols were implemented; and server software and utilities to access product databases were written. The system uses off-the-shelf hardware for which there are multiple suppliers, so the future of the system is secure. The cost to the retailer is potentially one fifth that of previous systems. As well as the lower price tag, the handheld device is competitive due to the amount of features the system boasts. A comprehensive set of user-friendly applications has been created for product creation, checking, etc. The speed of the system is instantaneous, solving a common problem with many handheld implementations on the market today. There is a reduced cost in supporting and maintaining the hardware, and there is also a greater opportunity for future development of the product beyond the retail sector. This system has undergone quality testing and has been deployed successfully in four live shop environments.